Tue Jul 11 01:00:00 EAT 2017

Rugby star Wokorach relishing ‘upset’

By Ismail D. Kigongo

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Philip Wokorach is already guaranteed to step on the grand stage at the Imperial Royale Hotel at least once on Friday. The Kenya-based player will pick his plaque for being voted the Nile Special/Uganda Sports Press Association (Uspa) Rugby Player of the Year.

It could turn out to be an even more memorable contest as Wokorach is part of the three-man shortlist for the Nile Special/Uspa sports personality of the year award.

Even he knows that he is an underdog. Uganda Cranes goalkeeper Denis Onyango and 2016 Paralympic silver medalist David Emong are the other two contenders.

But just like that Rugby Afrique 7s triumph last September in Nairobi, Kenya where he was named the tournament’s best player, Wokorach retains faith. “I don’t even know what to say if I was to win (the overall award) because being the rugby player of the year means a lot to me already,” Wokorach told Daily Monitor.

“Last year was very fond. Not only wining the Africa sevens tournament but also being named player of the tournament. We had a good number of debutants and we were underdogs but pulled off all the stops to win it,” the Kabras Sugar player said.